Jobsite Conditions for Applying Interior Finishing Materials

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Recommendation

JOBSITE CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING INTERIOR FINISHING MATERIALS

1. SCOPE

Provide recommendations for applying interior finishing materials over gypsum board surfaces (walls, partitions, and ceilings).

For the purpose of this document, interior finishing materials include, but may not be limited to, corner reinforcement trim, joint compound and reinforcement tape, texture and/or architectural paint coatings. This recommendation includes environmental best practices for;

1.1 Conditioning of gypsum board and concrete surfaces prior to the application of interior finishing materials.

1.2 Interior jobsite conditions during and after the application of interior finishing materials.

1.3 All interior finishing materials are to be installed and/or applied in accordance with all applicable building codes, job specifications, and manufacturer's recommendations.

2. SUBSTRATE PREPARATION

2.1 All gypsum board surfaces shall be sound, and remain dry. All construction debris, sanding dust or other surface contaminants shall be removed prior to application of interior finishing materials. The interior space shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C) for at least 48 hours prior to the application of interior finishing materials. The interior space shall be environmentally controlled at a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C) during and after the application(s) of interior finishing materials, and ideally, jobsite controlled under occupancy environmental conditions throughout the finishing process until occupancy.

2.2 All concrete surfaces shall be sound, dry, and aged for a minimum of 60 days prior to the application of interior finishing materials. All construction debris, efflorescence, form release agents, dust, or other surface contaminants shall be removed. Exposed metal shall be cleaned and primed with a rust-inhibitive primer. The concrete surface shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C) for at least 48 hours prior to the application of interior finishing materials. The interior space shall be environmentally controlled at a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C) during and after the application(s) of interior finishing materials, and ideally, jobsite controlled under occupancy environmental conditions throughout the finishing process until occupancy.

2.3 Verify manufacturer recommendations and job specifications to determine if the substrate surface needs to be treated (e.g. sealed, primed, or similar) before applying certain interior finishing materials.


3. INTERIOR JOBSITE CONDITIONS

3.1 The interior jobsite work space shall be controlled at a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C) prior, during, and after the application of finishing materials until completion of the project and/or occupancy. Best results can be achieved when jobsite environmental conditions match occupancy environmental conditions.

3.2 Ventilation and air flow shall be provided to permit effective drying of interior finishing materials.

3.2.1 Permanent heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system(s) shall be utilized whenever possible.

3.2.2 Unvented gas and oil heaters shall not be used. Propane heaters shall only be used with effective ventilation systems or engineering controls such as dehumidifiers to avoid elevating moisture/humidity concentration within the interior work space, which can have an adverse effect on the finishing materials and final appearance.

3.3 In certain situations, jobsite lighting may not be representative of final or inspection lighting. In such cases, jobsite lighting shall be utilized having intensity greater than final or inspection lighting during the application of interior finishing materials.

3.4 Inspection lighting shall always be representative of normal lighting conditions in intensity and location.

3.5 Unless recommended by the manufacturer, all interior finishing materials shall be applied to dry surfaces, and allowed to fully dry prior to scheduling subsequent applications of finishing materials or final decoration. For more information refer to DWFC publication titled; “Joint Compound Drying Time”.

3.5.1 All drying type joint compounds shall be applied to dry surfaces only, and allowed to fully dry prior to applying subsequent coats of joint compound materials.

3.5.2 All setting-type joint compounds shall be chemically set /hardened sufficiently to recoat, but not necessarily dry, prior to applying subsequent coats of setting type joint compound materials.

4. APPLICATION OF INTERIOR FINISHING MATERIALS

4.1 All interior finishing materials are to be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Revised June, 2011


Members

CertainTeed Gypsum • Freeman Products • Georgia Pacific Gypsum LLC • LaFarge North America • Magnum Products • National Gypsum Company • Panel Rey SA • Rapid Set Cement • Saint-Gobain, Inc • Sherwin-Williams Company • Solid Products, Inc. • Southern Wall Products • Trim-Tex, Inc. • United States Gypsum Company • Westpac Materials

Associates

Active Minerals International • Akzo Nobel • Allied Custom Gypsum • American Gypsum Company • Ames Taping Tools Company • Aqualon – A Division of Ashland • Bayer Chemicals • Canadian Gypsum Company • Chemstar • Clinch-On Corner Bead • Celanese • Dow Chemical Company • Evans Adhesives • Forbo Adhesives LLC • J.M. Huber, Inc. • L & W Supply • Nobel Materials, Inc. • Oglebay Norton • P.T. Hutchins Company •Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas • Troy Chemical • Verichem, Inc. • Zemex Industrial Minerals

Honorary Members

Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries (AWCI) • Drywall Information Trust Fund (DITF) • Gypsum Association (GA) • Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau (NWCB) • Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) • Technical Services Information Bureau (TSIB)

Documents

Jobsite Conditions for Applying Interior Finishing Materials